Radnorshire Fine Arts Ltd

Description

Bar Gate, Southampton
Unsigned, inscribed in pencil on reverse, Bar Gate, Southampton
Pencil and watercolour on paper
Mounted (not framed)

Note This drawing is a preparatory study for the finished watercolour "Bar Gate, Southampton" in the collection of the V&A museum, London. The finished work was engraved by William Byrne (1743-1805)and published Oct 15 1802, Plat Vol. II, No. 22, The Antiquities of Great Britain (1786-1807).
A digital image of the watercolour in the V&A can be ordered through the museum on 02079422887 - Museum No 95/1892 - Press Mark WD 33.

The V&A's painting is slightly larger (18.7 x 24.8 cm) which shows the corner of one other building (absent from our watercolour) at the far right of the picture. Close examination also reveals some minor changes to the composition such as the open windows in our watercolour are not seen in the finished version, these and a few other alterations would have been done in preperation for the engraver.

On moving to London, Hearne was apprenticed to the enginneer William Woollett (1735-1785) from 1765 to 1771. He spent nearly four years as draughtsman to the Governor of the Leeward Islands in the West Indies and returned to England to publish his views. He then devoted himself almost exclusively to British landscape and antiquarian subjects. He became one of the leading topographical artists of the period. He was greatly admired during his lifetime and his works were sought after by discerning collectors.

Hearne deliberately limited his use of colour preferring to concentrate on tone. This enabled him to provide great atmosphere and depth in his work and he was influential in this regard, on the artists Turner (1775-1851) and Thomas Girtin (1775-1802).

His drawings are frequently in grey wash, and when he uses colour it is never very strong. Often it is merely a warm base of orange or pale coffee. Although he used pencil for his basic outline - and occasionally drew in pencil only - in his finished works he goes over these outlines with the brush. H.L.Mallalieu the Dictionary of British Watercolour Artists up to 1920.

Examples of his work can be seen in many of the leading galleries throughout the UK.